Storage battery



Dec. 27, 1932. R; D, SHIPP 1,892,288

STORAGE BATTERY v Filed Jan. 2, 1925 Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATESPATET FFECE RAYMOND D. SHIPP, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY IEESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PREST-O-LITE STORAGE BATTERY CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF INDIANAV STORAGE BATTERY Application filed January 2, 1925. Serial No. 204.

This invention relates to means in a storage against spreading. A separator secured to battery cell for positioning and supporting the yoke, hangs from it between the eleca separator between the electrode plates trodes, and forms with it a unit which is so thereof, and for preventing said plates from interlitted with the electrodes that it canspreading. The invention is particularly apnot be accidentally detached from them. The 50 plicable to a cell having its electrode termielectrodes, the yoke, and the separator as nals extended through or secured to a thus suspended together from the cover, may screwed on cover, so that the electrodes necesturn freely therewith`l and have no tendency sarily turn with the cover, a construction to become disarranged when the cover is becommonly employed, for example, inV radio ing screwed on. The accumulation of sedi- 55 B batteries. i nient in proximity to the electrodes is also It has been found desirable to brace the avoided. electrodes of a cell of this type against In another embodiment lugs integral with spreading. This has been accomplished herethe cover engage the outer faces of the electofore by providing beneath the electrode a trodes to keep them from spreading. These '60 support of rubber, having a notch for receivlugs and separators are provided with opening the lower ends of the electrodes. This ings through which a pin is inserted to supsupport has been formed in addition, with a port the separator between the plates. deeper notch :tor positioning a separator be- Other objects and advantages will heretween the electrodes. inafter appear. 65

There are several objections to the rubber In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical secelectrode support. Sediment caught by it is tional view of a battery cell embodying the likely to short circuit the electrodes, particulnDYOVenients of the present invention. larly if the separator floats or is jarred out Fg'- 2 S MSO il VelCl SSCJLOD'1 WCW 0f of the bottom of its notch in the support. the saine cell, the section being taken at right 70 The support. contacting as it does with the enel@ t0 the section .of Fig. l; container, is hard to turn, so that it opposes Fig- 3 is an elevation of the yoke employed the turning of the electrodes and cover, and in llS C6115 this tends to disarrange the electrodes, and Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a cell 30 to strain the connections between the elec- Showing another embodiment 0f the in- 75 trodes andthe cover at the screwing on of vention; and the cover. The rubber support, the elee- Fig. 5 is another vertical sectional view trodes, and the separator. are unconnected, thereof, the section being taken at right anand therefore are awkward to assemble and gles to the section of Fig. 4. to keep together when the cover is being In Figs. l to 3 the battery cell comprises a S0 screwed on the container. ar or container l of insulating material, such It is an object of the present invention to as glass, having an insulating cap or cover 9., provide means for bracing the electrodes and preferably of hard rubber, screwed thereon. supporting the separator, which are free Flat positive and negative electrode plates 3 from the objections noted. The electrodes andtare. suspended in parallel relation, from 8. are accordingly suspended troni the cover the cover 2, by stems 5 and 6 securely fixed without any support from below and in one therein. The stems 5 and 6 extend Jrhrough embodiment provision is made of a non-conthe cover 2 and serve as conduct-ing terminals ducting yoke upon the tops of the electrode for the cell. A yoke 7, which may be of hard plates that embraces them, to hold them rubber or other acid-resistant non-conducting rigid material, spans and embraces the electrodes 3 and 4 at their upper ends to preventI them from spreading, and also supports a separator 8 between the electrodes 3 and 4. In assembling the yoke 7, the separator 8 and the electrodes 3 and 4, the sepa-rater is first placed between the electrodes with the slot 9 in its upper portion located between the stems 5 and 6 and above the electrodes. 'Ihe yoke 7 is turned on its side and passed sidewise through the slot 9 in the separator until the notch 10 at the middle of the yoke is caused to register with the separator slot 9. The yoke 7 is then turned upright to interr lock its notched portion with the separator 8.

The yoke 7 and separator 8, thus connected, can not be accidently detached from the electrodes 3 and 4 because the yoke can not be moved past the stems 5 and 6. The cover 2, the electrodes 3 and 4, the anti-spreading yoke 7, and the separator 8 form a unitary structure that may be conveniently assembled with the container by screwing thel cover on the container 1. There are no parts of this unit which rub against the container with substantial pressure. Hence the connections between the stems 5 and 6, and the cover 2, are not strained, and the parts are not disarranged when the cover is screwed down.

The separator 8 extends beyond the side edges of the electrodes 3 and 4 almost to the walls of the container jar 1. The extent of lateral movement of the separator 8 is preferably small so that the electrode plates 3 and 4 will not be uncovered by the separator.

The weight of the yoke 7 may hold the separator 8 and the yoke in place. Provision is made however to prevent uncovering of the electrodes 3 and 4 or dislodgment of the yoke 7 from operativeengagement with the electrodes in case the combined separator and yoke are set afloat by the electrolyte. The separator 8 extends nearly into contact with thecover 2 at its upper end, the distance between the separator and the cover being less than the length of the yoke fingers 11 that lie outside the electrodes 3 and 4, so that the fingers can not clear the tops of the electrodes when the parts are operatively assembled. The separator 8 also extends, at its lower end, a considerable distance below the electrode plates 3 and 4, so that the plates can not be uncovered by the slight vertical shifting of O the separator which might result from its being iioated or liarred. Y

Although the yoke 7 and separator 8 are securely attached for convenience in assembly and permanence of arrangement in use, they can be very readily detached when it becomes necessary to inspect or replace the separator'. In order to detach them it is only necessary to turn the yoke 7 on its side and withdraw it from the slot 9.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the battery container 12 has the insulating rubber cover 13 screwed upon it. Flat electrode plates 14 and 15 are suspended in parallel relation from the cover 13 by stems 16 and 17 which extend through the cover and form the cell terminals. Lugs 18 integral with the cover 13 or otherwise suitably secured thereto, extend down into positions to engage t-he outer faces of the electrodes to prevent spreading apart thereof. These lugs have aligned openings 19 above the electrodes. 4 rial, such as hard rubber inserted through these openings and forms a support for a separator 21 interposed between the electrodes 14 and 15.V In assembling these part-s the separatorl is first placed between the electrodes in position to receive the pin 20 and the pin is then passed through the openings 19 and through the separator. The pin may be made to lit the openings 19 rather snugly so that it will be retained in place. In this form of the invention the separator is caused to extend above and below the electrodes and beyond both ends thereof. No play of the separator is permitted so that there is no possibility of the electrodes becoming uncovered by the separator. y

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and parts of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a storage battery cell, the combination with a container, and a pair of electrodes supported entirely from above, of a yoke resting on the electrodes and embracing them to keep them from spreading, and a separator attached to said yoke and suspended from it between the electrodes, the lower portion of the container being entirely free from sediment catching surfaces in proximity to the electrodes.

2. In a storage battery cell, the combination with a container, and a pair of electrodes supported entirely from above, of a yoke supported solely by the electrodes and having depending portions engaging the outer surfaces of said electrodes at the upper extremities to keep them from spreading laterally the lower portion of the container being entirely free from sediment catching surfaces in proximity to the electrodes.

3. In a storage battery cell, the combination with a container, and a cover therefor, of a pair of electrodes suspended from the cover,a separator between the electrodes, and a separator support resting on the electrodes and attached to the separator, said support having downturned fingers embracing the upper ends of the electrodes, and a central separator positioning notch.

4. In a storage battery cell, the combination with a container, and a cover therefor, of a pair of electrodes suspended from the cover, a separator between the electrodes having a slot above the electrodes, a separator support insertable in said slot only when A pin 2O of insulating matel turned on its side, said support having a,

central notch enabling it to be turned upright after it has been inserted in the slot,

for interlocking engagement with the separator.

5. In a storage battery cell, the combination with a container, and a pair of electrodes therein, of a single anti-spreading yoke supported by the upper ends of the electrodes l0 at the centers thereof and embracing them, and means above the electrodes for limiting the vertical movement of the yoke toprevent disarrangement of the yoke and the electrodes. In testimony whereof, I afiX my signature.

RAYMOND D. SHIPP. 

